They play and give everything for each other

Last updated : 27 January 2008 By Tony Scholes

Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins wasn't happy with his own team's performance but was full of praise for the Clarets. "We were very poor," he said. "Burnley were excellent, they were top drawer. They are a top six side.

"The game was lost in the first half and today's was the worst performance we have put in by a million miles. The first half was just not acceptable. We gave away two really poor goals and it as about us being collectively cohesive as a unit, but the top and bottom of it is we weren't good enough.

"We are where everyone expects us to be, and we are in a battle that we are trying to fight. Today's first half performance wasn't the performance I expected although Burnley are a very good side, top drawer."

Owen Coyle was happy with his team's performance. "Particularly in the first half, I think the level of performance and the quality of the goals was exactly what we are after," he said. "There were more bits and pieces in the second half, but by then I think we were comfortable in the game.

"The wind and pitch didn't seem conducive to good football but we tried to eradicate that by getting the ball down and taking the wind factor out of it and I think we did that.

"It was another collective effort again and it had to be. We only had sixteen players today, given injuries and suspension. But we have shown as a group that we are very strong and that camaraderie is evident when they play and give everything for each other."